Manara Ministries June 2015 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Here is the most recent update from our friends in Jordan. Over the past year, more than 7000 Christian Iraqi refugees have entered Jordan seeking refuge and peace from all the horrific crimes they witnessed in Iraq. Being a refugee causes stress and hopelessness to many. They have suffered for their faith in Jesus Christ and we, as their brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide need to step up and care for them. All they want is to live an honorable and peaceful life, and watch their children grow up without the terror of war haunting them.
Dinner for Christian Iraqis
This month, Manara was able to provide over 275 people with a hot meal; rice, sauce and meat, with a drink. They were invited to gather in a large church hall and enjoy eating their meal without worry.
During the meal, a young boy about 5 years old, hesitantly walked up to the serving table and shyly stood there and asked “Can I have another piece of meat, just one?” A heart breaking scene, as many people in the world today do not need to think twice about having another piece of meat or chicken.
Gilead Summer camps have started!
The first summer camp of this year has started with great excitement and a lot of preparation. There are around 120 campers who are attending the camp and 35 volunteers who are able to serve the campers and lead them in these five days. The influence of Camp Gilead cannot be overestimated for during these summer weeks many Middle Eastern young people commit to following the Lord Jesus.
The five days of camp are full of different activities, ranging from sports, team building games, seminars, sermons and praise and worship times. For many campers this will be the first time they hear about Jesus in such a life changing way. They will be able ask questions and engage in discussions about any topic regarding the Christian faith. We pray that in this short time the campers will be able to experience the unconditional love of Jesus Christ and may they know Him as Lord and Savior. One of the wonderful facilities in Gilead camp this year is a new play ground recently built to accommodate more campers than ever before.
Our partners at Manara International are working on various projects that aim to comfort and support as many Christian refugees as possible. Thank you for your compassion and for your friendship. You are a constant encouragement to all those working with Manara and the people that they serve.
If the Lord leads you to share a special gift today to help in the covering some of the operational costs of the camps and the costs of the new court that was built that would be a great help. These gifts will support them as they minister to the campers and demonstrate his love. Gifts can be sent to Hope Builders at PO Box 91359, Austin, TX 78709 or given on the HBI contribution page.
We are very happy to share this news with you! We were recently able to open a mobile clinic in Erbil. The mobile clinic has been opened this month and is ready to serve everyone who is in need of medical attention and cannot afford it. This mobile clinic contains five different medical specializations, general doctor, gynecology, pharmacy, lab and dentist. It is located near to one building where refugees are living in Erbil, Northern Iraq.
We thank God for his provision and we pray this clinic will be a source of comfort for those who are in desperate need.
This month, we were able to visit two different centers where a large number of Christian Iraqi refugees reside. They received a hot meal, food parcels, shoes, boots, warm winter jackets and toys for the children. Each child also received a special bag filled with various kinds of snacks.
The streets of Kurdistan’s largest city are lined with children begging for money, for food, for anything to ease their suffering. Displaced families are everywhere; in tents and churches and unfinished buildings.
Bandewya is a Christian village, population 800. Many people from Mosul ran away to this village for protection from ISIS. We arrived with two trucks filled with basic necessities. We were able to distribute mattresses, warm covers for winter, food parcels, and heaters. Soon, the snows will come, threatening the lives of those who are not equipped to survive.
The families were very thankful and appreciative; no one has ever tried to reach them before. They understood the risks we took to get there. They told us they can hear bombs exploding and the crack of rifle fire from the valley below and said they will have to flee to Erbil soon, because ISIS is getting closer.
Many churches have opened their doors to welcome them and help them with accommodations. This group of Iraqi Christians have been living in the Assyrian Church; the living and sleeping arrangements are very uncomfortable for them as they have to share their rooms with others families. Unfortunately, not all have rooms to sleep in; the church’s basement hall has also been turned into sleeping quarters. They have put up wooden dividers to separate between each area. They also share a bathroom made up of two stalls. They also shared their heartbreaking stories with us. No one has hope of ever returning back to their homeland, as one young man said “I would have never thought of leaving Iraq, now we have no place to go back to, no home, no business, no schools and no cars. 
Almost all of them do not have clothes for the winter season. Many need basic items for their children, such as diapers and personal hygiene items. Many need medicines that they can not afford to buy. So we took this opportunity to plan our next visit according to their schedule, which was the following Sunday. They were invited to eat a hot meal by another church. So we prepared boxes of clothes enough for 170 people, specifically winter clothes, for people of all ages so that they would at least have a long sleeve shirt and a coat to keep them warm. Children also received teddy bears and toys as presents. The future is unclear; they do not know where they will go and what will happen to them. Some wish to leave to Jordan and start a new life elsewhere while others do not want to leave and hope they can build a new life here. Until they are able to make decisions, they need our help and support to live a somewhat normal life. If the Lord leads you to share a special gift today to help us minister to those in need and demonstrate his love, you may send it to the address below or give online using the website link:
Isam Ghattas of Manara Ministries, phoned with joy as the container from Virginia bringing clothing, blankets, medical supplies and food arrived in Amman, Jordan. These goods are destined to help thousands of Syrian refugees who have been forced to leave Syria. Isam ministers to both Christians and not yet Christians who continue to suffer from this terrible tragedy which still has no end in sight. A second container containing shoes, hygienic supplies, cooking oil, soap and many other items left last week headed for Amman.
Besides this ministry of love, Manara is hosting its annual summer program of outreach to youth at Camp Gilead. This program, unique in the Middle East, brings the gospel to life for young people who need to know there is a God who loves them.
We are glad to let you know that the container that we asked for your help in filling is on its way to Jordan. The clothing, blankets, food, and relief supplies that filled the 40 foot container will bring much needed aid to many refugees. Nonetheless, the situation in Syria continues to worsen.
